Full latent growth and its use in PLS-SEM: Testing moderating relationships

The article below explains how one can conduct a full latent growth analysis, in the context of structural equation modeling via partial least squares (PLS-SEM). This type of analysis can be viewed as a comprehensive analysis of moderating effects where the moderating variable is “latent”, not “disrupting” the model in any way.

Kock (2020). Full latent growth and its use in PLS-SEM: Testing moderating relationships. Data Analysis Perspectives Journal, 1(1), 1-5.

A link to a PDF file is available ().

Abstract:

A full latent growth analysis, in the context of structural equation modeling via partial least squares (PLS-SEM), can be viewed as a comprehensive analysis of moderating effects where the moderating variable is “latent”, not “disrupting” the model in any way. In this paper we illustrate such an analysis employing WarpPLS, a leading PLS-SEM software tool.

One-tailed or two-tailed P values in PLS-SEM?

Should P values associated with path coefficients, as well as with other coefficients such as weights and loadings, be one-tailed or two-tailed? This question is addressed through the publication below.

Kock, N. (2015). One-tailed or two-tailed P values in PLS-SEM? International Journal of e-Collaboration, 11(2), 1-7.

PDF file:

http://cits.tamiu.edu/kock/pubs/journals/2015JournalIJeC2/Kock_2015_IJeC_OneTwoTailedPLSSEM.pdf

Abstract:

Should P values associated with path coefficients, as well as with other coefficients such as weights and loadings, be one-tailed or two-tailed? This question is answered in the context of structural equation modeling employing the partial least squares method (PLS-SEM), based on an illustrative model of the effect of e-collaboration technology use on job performance. A one-tailed test is recommended if the coefficient is assumed to have a sign (positive or negative), which should be reflected in the hypothesis that refers to the corresponding association. If no assumptions are made about coefficient sign, a two-tailed test is recommended. These recommendations apply to many other statistical methods that employ P values; including path analyses in general, with or without latent variables, plus univariate and multivariate regression analyses.

Using data labels to discover moderating effects in PLS-based structural equation modeling

How can one discover moderating effects with data labels? This question is addressed through the article below:

Kock, N. (2014). Using data labels to discover moderating effects in PLS-based structural equation modeling. International Journal of e-Collaboration, 10(4), 1-14.

http://cits.tamiu.edu/kock/pubs/journals/2014JournalIJeC2/Kock_2014_IJeC_UsingDataLabelsMod.pdf

This publication refers to a sample dataset, with data and data labels, illustrating a moderating effect. This dataset is linked below as a .xlsx file. The data was created based on a Monte Carlo simulation.

http://www.scriptwarp.com/warppls/data/Kock_2014_ECollabModStudyData.xlsx

Another approach to discover moderating effects is a full latent growth analysis.

Sometimes the actual inclusion of moderating variables and corresponding links in a model leads to problems; e.g., increases in collinearity levels, and the emergence of instances of Simpson’s paradox. The WarpPLS menu option “Explore full latent growth”, available starting in version 6.0, allows you to completely avoid these problems, and estimate the effects of a latent variable or indicator on all of the links in a model (all at once), without actually including the variable in the model. Moreover, growth in coefficients associated with links among different latent variables and between a latent variable and its indicators, can be estimated; allowing for measurement invariance tests applied to loadings and/or weights.

Related YouTube video:

Explore Full Latent Growth in WarpPLS

http://youtu.be/x_2e8DVyRhE